Barcode Added To Vehicle Registrations

As part of New Jersey’s new enhanced emissions inspection and maintenance program, the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is adding a barcode to the yearly vehicle registration card to save time and decrease data entry errors during the inspection process.

The barcodes, which will start appearing on registration cards issued this month, contain the same information currently printed on the document. This information includes the vehicle identification number (VIN), license plate number, registration expiration date and motor vehicle inspection expiration date. The date of odometer reading and odometer information also will be included in the barcode.

"We are adding this barcode to improve the inspection process," said C. Richard Kamin, DMV Director. "The barcode will provide greater speed and accuracy compared to the current practice of manually inputting information. Moving cars through the inspection lanes efficiently is an important goal of the enhanced emissions program."

"We see barcode technology as a big time saver in the inspection lanes and we are working to do all we can to make sure we keep wait times down during the inspection process," said Larry Sherwood, general manager of the enhanced emissions program for Parsons Infrastructure and Technology Group. Parsons was contracted by the state of New Jersey to operate the motor vehicle inspection process.

New Jersey joins the ranks of other states which already provide barcode registration documents, Kamin noted.

"Many other states use the barcode on licenses and registrations and more states will adopt this technology as part of their clean air programs," Kamin said. "It’s actually the first technology advance on either the New Jersey drivers license or vehicle registration in some years and it keeps us in sync with the high-tech electronic business world of today."

New Jersey is one of 28 states either operating or implementing an enhanced emissions inspection program. New Jersey’s program is scheduled to become fully operational by December and is designed to bring the state into compliance with the federal Clean Air Act of 1990.